Coin-controlled liquid dispenser



Jan. 17, 1928.

H. A. MESSERVY COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Dec. 8, 1923 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656 384 H. A. MESSERVY CQIN CONTROLLEDLIQUID DISPENSER Filed Dec. 8, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 i M W5 4INYEIVTOE :I HAMEssE/w Jam 17, 1928.

- H. A. MESSERVY com CONTROLLED LIQUID nxsrsmsnn Filed Dec. 8. 1923 5Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIVEUM liAMssssnvy Jab hnX- Jan. 17, 1928.

H. A. MESSERVY COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledDec a, 1923 f/ r v I V JIZamgyS.

Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,384

H. A. MESSERVY com CONTROLLED LIQUID msransnn I Filed Dec. 8, 192:5 5Sheets-Sheet 5 FAQ.

Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COIN-CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSER.

Application filed December 8, 1923. serial No. 679,292.

My invention relates. to a coin-controlledliquid dispenser, moreparticularly intended to dispense gasoline and oils at service stations,one object being to produce a dispenser capable of supplying definitequantities upon the insertion of a coin.

Another object is to enable the regulation of the quantity supplied inaccordance with the fluctuation in prices of the material sold. Afurther object is to devise a machine capable of being operated by thepurchaser wihout the aid of any attendants.

These and further objects will be pointed outin the followingdescription which, in connection with the accompanying drawings,illustrates one'practical form of my invention.

In the drawings, similar reference symbols indicate similar partsthroughout the several views.

Figure 1 illustrates the dispenser as it appears complete.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a refilling system operated bycompressed air.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a refilling system electricallyoperated.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the operat- "ing parts of the dispenser.

d Figure 5 is a top view of the operating 1s Figure 6 is a view of theoperating lever as it appears mounted on the operating disk, taken online 66, Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a cross section on line 7-7, Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a cross section on line 88, Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a vertical section on line 99, Figures 4 and 7.

Figure 10 is a detail of the disk locking mechanism.

Figure 11 is a side' elevation, partly in section, of the price-indcating cylinder, showing the means of operating the same.

Figure 12 is an illustration of the priceindicating scale. f

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of themeter arrangement of thedispensing tubes.

The dispenser is [composed of a tube 1, mounted on a base 2. which basehas a suitable flange at its top (not shown) to receive the lower end ofthe first section 3 of an outer casing, the upper end of which casing isengaged in the coin trunk 4, hereinafter described. A second section 3"mounted on the coin trunk 4 engages in the base 39 of the measuringcontainer 23, which container, in the present instance, is shown with aglass side wall 8 protected by a screen 8. The top of the container maybe of various configurations and may contain lights or advertisingsigns.

The base 39 is provided with a groove to receive the upperend of outercasing 3. This base is further provided with a gasket 41 to suitablypack the bottom end of the glass 8. The upper end of the glass is closedby means of a cover 42 having a depending flange and a gasket 43 tohermetically close the measuring container.

Referringmore particularly to Figure 4, wherein all the partsnecessary'to control the dispensing of gasoline are illustrated insection, 7 is a disk mounted to rotate freely around the circular tube 1(see Figure 5). This disk is provided with a deep groove 10 into whichis mounted to rotate an operating lever 9, said lever being mounted atthe bottom of the groove, preferably by a sep-- i arable collar 11united together by means of bolts 12. Lever 9 extends outside easing 3and travels into a slot 15 in the casing 3. This lever is provided witha hand piece 14, as shown.- In order tocause lever 9 to retractindependently of disk 7, I provide a spring 13 (see Figure 6),shown'connected to the head of one of the bolts 12 and to a book 16 onthe casing 3.

So far, it has been explained that the disk 7 rotates about the tube 1and that the lever 9 rotates about the disk 7.- In order to rotate thedisk 7 by means of lever 9, it is necessary to provide a means totemporarily lock the same to affect this rotation. This is done by meansof coins of several denominations, two of which are shown in the presentinstance, of respective values of twentyfive cents and fifty cents.These coins are introduced into a coin trunk 4 which is fastened to tube1 by means of set screws 17 and forms part of a circular flangeextending outside casings 3 and 3* into which grooves 18 are made, thelower groove receiving the upper end of easing 3 and the upper one thelower end of easing 3 The upper casing 3 is bulged inward at 19 so as toexpose the coin slots 20 and 21 (see Figure 7 1 While lever 9 isintended to actuate disc 7. it remains free thereon, as already stated,

with coins of various denominations.

disc.

unless a proper coin is deposited in the device. The device may be madeto operate In the present case provisions are made to operate the samewith coins of a value of twenty five centsand fifty cents. The coinlocks lever 9 to disc 7 by being placed in one of slots 22 or 24 in thedisc. The lever when operated will strike the coin and turn the Thereare two seriesof slots in disc 7 as shown in Figs. 5 and (5, slots 22 toreceive coins of twenty five cents and slots 2i, which are larger, toreceive coins of fifty cents. In order to prevent the insertion of coinsin the slots back of lever 9 when the same is pulled forward and therebylocked against return, a guard, not shown, suitably connected to thelever may be positioned be tween trunk 4 and disc 7. This guard willadvance with the lever and close the bottom of the chutes. The twentyfive cent coins are inserted in chute 20 and the fifty cent coins inchute 21. It will be noticed that the chutes 20 and 21 are so placedthat each will feed one series of slots in disc 7. Chute 20 feeds slots22 and chute 21 slots 24. The disc is rotated an equal distance for eachtwenty five cent coin deposited so that as many coins of thatdenomination may be employed at one time as there are slots in thatseries. In the present case there are six slots in the twenty five centseries which means that the machine can dispense to the value of onedollar and fifty cents at a time. The fifty cent coin having twice thevalue of the twenty five cent one, it is necessary to rotate disc 7twice as much when a fifty cent coin is used than it is when a twentyfive cent coin is used. In order to arrive at this, chute ;21 in trunk 4is placed back of slide 20 a distance equivalent to the distance betweeneach of the twenty five cent slots. This will lock the lever in linewith the second twenty-five cent slot and therefore, when ulled, willturn disc 7 the same amount as 1t would with two smaller coins.

It would appear from the foregoing that while there are five fifty centslots in disc 7 a series of three would be sufficient since one slotwill pass chute 22 every time the disc is operated with a fift centpiece but, if the device is first operate on a twenty five cent cointhere must then be a slot registering with chute 22 so that a fifty centcoin may be inserted in order to permit a combination of coins.

As the thickness of the groove 10 is less than the diameter of the coinsinserted therein, these coins will project on both sides of the leverand rest against the wall of the slot in the disk, thereby locking thelever to the disk until such time as they drop into a coin-box 6, whichbox may also be fastened around the tube 1 by means of set screws 25. Itwill be understood, of course, that when the lever has travelled to itsfull extent. the

coin will drop into the coin-box through a slot 26.

It is necessary that when a coin is once inserted in the disk 7, meansbe provided to prevent the retraction of the disc before in a similarcavity 71. on the coin-box 6..

These pawls are provided with springs 73 to keep them against the faceof the disk except at every slot where the pawls will enter angulargrooves 74.- and. rest against the coin, thereby preventing the returnof the disk until the coin drops in the coin box 6. As soon as the coinfalls into the coin-box 6, the disk is disengaged from the lever, andwhenever the liquid is fully dispensed, it will return to its originalposition by means of a spring 27 connected at 28 to collar 29 fixed todisk 7 and to the coin trunk 4 at 30. It will thus be seen that lever 9can only-operate disk 7 when a .coin is inserted in either of the slotsmentioned.

The function of disk 7 is twofold: First, it will open a valve in astand pipe 34 feeding the liquid from the reservoir up tothe measuringcontainer 23 by operating a valve 31 provided with a stem 32, whichextends when in open position outside of the tube 1, being suitablypacked by means of a packing box 33. Stem 32 extends into a cavity 35 inthe inside of collar 29, as shown in Figure 6, where the lever is shownfully retracted and the valve opened to allow the flow of liquid to themeasuring container. The moment disk 7 is operated, stem 32 will beforced. out of slot 35 and the valve 31 will be closed during the wholetime the disk is out of its original position or, in other words, duringthe dispensing of gasoline or any other liquid.

Second, disk 7 also controls the opening of the tubes extending'insidethe measuring container to dispense the quantity of liquid according tothe value of coins inserted in the machine. This control is obtained bymeans of a cam 59, shown in Figure 5, positioned to operate thevalve-operating rods 56. about to be described. Rods 56 operate valvesmounted in the bottom of measuring container 23. Each tube is providedwith a packing gland 38, preferably positioned inside the container.

In order to adjust the height of these tubes so as to dispense aquantity of liquid equal to the value of the coins inserted, 1t isnecessary to provide means to vary this height proportionately'to thefluctuation in value of'the liquid dispensed, and, as the tubedispensing lesser quantities requires less adjustment than the tube ofthe next higher quantity, a means must be provided tor'egulate them allby one operation. For this purpose, I provide each tube with a threadedportion 37, and the thread being of a pitch proportionate to the amountof travel of the tube. Into these threads is engaged a nut 44. Theexterior of each nut is circular and has cogs to form gears, which arein mesh with an internal gear 45, operated by means of a pinion 46carriedby a shaft 47, also carrying a worm gear at its other end engaing a worm 48 carried b a shaft 49 rotate il by a suitable key 50 seeFigure 11). Nuts 44 are seated in a suitable cavity 51 in the measuringcontainer base 39. The same cavitv also supports the internal gear 45(see igure 4), which is held in place by gears 44 and pinion 46 and idlepinion 46 carried by a pin 47. The lower ends of tubes 37 extend into avalve chamber 52 threaded in the base 39 and serving as a packing glandto prevent leakage between the tube and the base.

Valves 54 have on their stem light compressing springs 55 to properlyseat the same. These valves are actuated, as before mentioned, by meansof valve rods 56 projecting through packing glands 57 of a plug 57 alsomounted on the bottom 39, said rods also projecting through perforations58 in coin trunk 4 down to the disk 7 in a position to be actuated b cam59 on the disk as it is presented to t e respective valve rods.

In Figure 4, two measuring tubes 37 are shown but in Figure 8, the sixreferred to previously are pointed out.

In order to completely empty the quantity of liquid purchased, it isnecessary that the valve controlling the tube be kept open until theliquid is fully drawn out. For that purpose, the disk 7 must. betemporarily locked and the means employed for that purpose comprises thefollowing arrangement: A number of depressions 36 -(see Figures 5 and10) are made in the face of disk 7, into which a pawl 61, fulcrumed ontrunk 4, enters. These depressions are so shaped as to allow the pawl todisengage itself when free from pressure. Therefore, in order to holdthe same in pressed engagement, I provide a rod 62 passing through aperforation in the coin \trunk 4 and connected toa lever 63 fulcrumed at64 (see Figure 8), which lever extends over the outlet 6O (see Figure4), where it is connected to a rod 65 supporting a cup 66 positioned inthe path of the liquid flow. This cup is provided with a perforation 67of a size sufiicient to drain the liquid contained therein after theliquid flow ceases. Whenever cup 66 is filled with liquid, its weightwill depress the lever and consequently force rod .62 upon pawl 61 tomaintain the same in locked position. The moment the cup is emptied, therod 62 will be released and pawl 61 will be easily disengageld from thedepression 36, when through the action of spring 27, the disk 7 isreturned to its normal position. If neces sary, a small spring orcounterweight (not shown) may be attached to pawl 61 in order tocounterbalance the weight of lever 63 and cup 66. i

As the market price of liquid dispensed fluctuates, it is necessary toprovide indicating means to show the existing price. For that purpose, Iprovide a drum rotatively mounted inside casing 3 and positioned so thata portion thereof is exposed to view through an opening 7 6 in saidcasing (see Figure 12). Drum 75 is supported bet-ween brackets 77 and 78connected to tube 1, the drum being provided with gudgeons 79 and 80,respectively passing through brackets 77 and 78. Gudgeon 79 is providedwith a gear 81, which is in mesh with a pinion 82 carried by shaft 47.Figures on the drum represent the quantity of gasoline dispensed for theamount of the coins at a given price. It will, therefore, be evidentthat since the drum is connected to the mechanism operating themeasuring tubes 37, the indicating cylinder 75 will have a movementcorresponding to the movement of the tubes since it is driven from thesame source by means of key 50.

Means must also be provided to maintain the measuring container filledwith liquid. For that purpose, I provide a valve 83 seated on the standpipe 34 inside the container. This valve is maintained closed by meansof a float 86 slidinglymounted on stand pipe 87 so as to move freelythereon, said float actuating levers 85, as shown.

In order to provide an overflow for the liquid in the container, I use atube 88 having perforations 89. said tube leading down to the gasolinetank, about to be described.

It may be said here that the measuring container is assembled by meansof tube 88 and rods 89, as shown in Figure 4.

Several means may be used to force the gasoline into the measuringcontainer from thegasoline tank. In Figures 2 and 3, I have shown two ofthese means, In each illustration, 90 represents a gasoline tank w and91 a vent pipe, 34 being the stand pipe conducting the liquid into thecontainer.

In Figure 2 is shown a means of forcing the liquid by compressed air.The main pipe leading from the compressor is shown at 92. A suitablethree-way valve 93 leads the air into tank .90 through pipe 94 andserves to connect vent pipe 91 with tank 90 and tank 97 through'pipe 96,which tank is intended to receive the liquid overflowing from thecontainer through pipe 98. This pipe 98 isprovided with a check valve99.

A communication between the draining tank 97 and 90 is obtained throughpipe 100 having a check valve 101. It will be apparent by thisarrangement that since the liquid in tank 90 is under compression, itwill rise in pipe 34 and fill the container 23 whenever valve 31 isopened. The gasoline contained in the draining tank 97 will evidently beautomatically transferred to tank 90 through pipe 100 whenever bothtanks are vented.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, I provide a pump 102 having asuitable inlet pipe 110 to draw gasoline from tank 90, the outlet ofthis pump being the stand pipe 34. The pump is actuated by electricityand the switch 104 to actuate the same may operate as follows: Operatedby disc 7 which is actuated by operating lever 9 is a rod 103 positionedto close the'switch 104 when the disc is in its normal position. Thisrod is operated by disc 7 and to prevent the same from operating theswitch when the tank is filled, I provide a rod 105 extending into themeasuring container 23 and there attached to lever 106 operated by afloat 107. The spring indicated by 108 is intended to keep the switchcontacts separated whenthe switch is off. It will be understood thatlever 106 and float 107 are positioned in the container 23 to permit anoverfilling of the same. The overflow tube 88, through its perforation89, will then cause the excess of gasoline to drain up to the exactmeasuring point in the container. When the container is overfilled, thefloat will, through rod 105, deviate rod 103 from the switch 104,thereby opening the same and stopping the motor. The moment the gasolinehas reached its proper level, the

' float will allow rod 103'to again return in line with the switch, whenthe same may be operated upon the actuation of disc 7.

In operation, assuming that the measuring container is full of gasolineand that, for

example, it is desire'd to obtain gasoline to the value of one dollarand fifty cents by means of six twenty-five cent pieces, the coins willbe deposited in the twenty-fivecent chute one after the other, pullinglever handle 14 after each coin is inserted. .As there are six slots forcoins of twenty-five cents in the disk, it will be possible to depositthe whole amount before refilling the reservoir. At the first pull thedisk will close the valve 31. After each coin has been deposited and thelever pulled, the'disk will have lifted, by means of its cam 59, arod 56and opened a valve in one of the outlet tubes, thereby causing a flow ofliquid and lower-- ing cup 66, thereby holding the disk, as alreadyexplained, while the following coin is inserted, and so on until the sixtubes are opened. The flow will continue until "the level of the liquidreaches the top of the lowest tube when it will stop. The cup 66 willthen drain and by means of its associate parts, as already explained,release the disk 7 which will return to its original position and. openvalve 31, whereby the measuring container will refill.

If, as a second example, two twenty-fivecent coins and two fifty-centcoins are to be employed, the two twenty-five-cent coins can be firstinserted and the device operated as in the first example, 0 ening twotubes, and then inserting the fi ty-cent pieces in the fifty-cent chute.As already stated, a fiftycent piece will cause the disk to rotate twiceas much as will the smaller coin, therefore these last two coins willeach open two tubes, making a total of six tubes in all, dispensing thesame quantity of liquid for the same value as in the first example.

Now, assuming thatthe price of gasoline prevailing in the first instanceto be thirty cents, as shown in Figure 12, by glancing at the cylinderin line with $1.50, corresponding to the amount deposited, 5.00 will beseen which means that five gallons Wlll or hate been dispensed. If, forthe second example, the price has been lowered to twentytwo cents, itbecomes necessary to alter the proportions supplied by each coin andalso the proportions supplied for different amounts on the cylinder.This will automatically be done by means of key 50 when inserted in itslook as shown and turned until 22 appears instead of 30. The amountsupplied appearing next to $1.50 on the cylinder will now be 6.81+ andthe lowest tube will be automatically lowered to dispense 1.81+ gallonsmore than in the first 1nstance; the second lowest tube five-sixths of181+ or 1.51 more; the third tube foursixths or 1.21; the nexttubethree-sixths or 0.905; and so on. By removing the key the devicebecomes fool proof and guarded against unauthorized tampering.

While I have illustrated a practical embodiment of my invention, I donot 'WlSll the invention to be understood as restricted to the precisedetails of structure or arrangements hereinbefore set forth, as variouschanges in the shape, size, location and construction of same or all theparts making up my invention, may be made without departing from thespirit or nature of my mventlon as covered by the appending claims.

' What I claim is 1. In a dispenser of the class descr1bed,a dispensingcontainer, a plurality of tubes of graduated height mounted to movevertically in said container, means to ad ust said tubes to dispense aquantity of liquid equal to a predetermined quotation comprising threadsat the lower end of each tube, gears having threads engaging the threadsof said tubes, and means to simultaneously rotate said gears.

2. In a dispenser of the class described, a

dispensing container, a plurality of tubes of graduated height mountedto move vertically in said container, means to adjust said tubes todispense a quantity of liquid equal to a predetermined quotationcomprising threads at the lower end of each tube, gears having threadsengaging the threads of said 7 tubes, means to simultaneously rotatesaid 3. In a dispenser of the class described, a

dispensing container, means to fill the samewith liquid, means todischarge said liquid from said container in measured quantitycorresponding to a predetermined quotation, comprising a plurality oftubes mounted to move vertically in said container, said tubes a varyingin height corresponding to a predetermined quotation, means to move eachtube proportionately to the value and quantity of liquid purchased sothat the tubes delivering lesser quantities may travel proportionatelywith those delivering greater quantities,

comprising threads on each tube, of a pitch to s1multaneously give theproportionate required movement to each tube, nuts forming gearsthreaded on each tube, and means to rotate all the nuts simultaneously,comprising an internal gear engaging the same, means to revolvefsaidinternal gear, comprising a key inserted in the machine to unlock therevolving mechanism.

4. In a dispenser of-the class described, a dispensing container, aseries of dispensing tubes mounted therein, valves closing sai tubes,valve rods to actuate said valves, a disk rotatively mounted below saidvalve rods, a cam on said disk to operate said valve rods, means to lockthe disk during the dispensing of liquid, comprising depressions in theface of the disk, a pawl mounted over said disk engaging saiddepressions, said depressions being shaped to allow said pawl to freeitself upon rotation of said disk, means to prevent the freeing of saidpawl comprising a liquid container movably positioned in the dispensingoutlet so as to be filled by the liquid during dispensing, and actuatingmeans between said liquid container and said pawl.

In testimony whereof, I have this 13th day of November, 1923, afiixed mysi nature, at Toronto, in the Province of %nt'ario, Canada.

HAROLD A. MESSERVY.

